★★
Kicking off with the stadium-sized ‘Higher’, which carries traces of the crunchy origins found on earlier EPs, seems to let listeners know that The Naked And Famous’ edgy, unhinged sound has made a return.
Alas, the record quickly dives into that good ol’ glossy dance-influenced pop.
‘The Water Beneath You’moves like a Chvrches single and ‘My Energy’is nearly pop-punk. Yet while the latter’s production is slick, it all feels like ice cream melting together. The lyrics are sourced from real conflict – band members Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers separated in 2014, with the group’s future remaining indefinite for a year after a difficult touring experience. Unfortunately, the transition of great pain into great art doesn’t quite work on Simple Forms, with the emotion so visible it feels forced.
Xayalith has a beautiful voice, but its force is often lost in the noise as too many things try to be powerful at once. Thankfully, ‘Laid Low’ amends this,scaling back her vocals and blending them in with the production. ‘The Runners’isdriven by a rhythm cut out in juicy bass and stands out for its simpler approach.
Simple Forms is unconvincing in light of their previous successes, but there are still pockets of The Naked And Famous’ excellence to be found.
The Naked And Famous’Simple Formsis out now on Universal.
